AUSTIN - Jerrod Heard wasn't the first Texas quarterback since Colt McCoy to walk into a huddle and tell his teammates they were about to win a game. But he might have been the first one to convince everybody it was true.

For a moment Saturday night, the Longhorns forgot about the previous five years and all of the abysmal production and rotten luck. In a redshirt freshman with pipe-cleaner legs and Popeye mettle, they'd found a reason to believe.

"They know we have a chance with his hands on the ball," UT play-caller Jay Norvell said.

And even after Heard's star-making performance ended with a cruel, mortifying twist in a 45-44 loss to California, the emergence of that belief might be the most important thing to happen to UT football in ages.

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Yes, Nick Rose's missed extra point dropped the Longhorns to a 1-2 record with three nationally ranked opponents in a row looming on their schedule. Yes, their defense ranks near the bottom of the FBS in nearly every major category. And yes, UT will have to pull off an upset or two just to become bowl-eligible again.

But for the first time in what feels like forever, genuine optimism is building, too. It's the kind of hope that only resides in college football teams with a difference-maker at the game's most important position.

The Longhorns knew Heard had spunk and ability. After he set a school single-game mark with 527 yards of total offense - outdazzling even the record-book exploits of Vince Young and McCoy - they knew those traits could translate to game night, too.

"Just watching him, he's exciting," coach Charlie Strong said. "He's brought the excitement into the team. You watch our whole sideline now when our offense takes the field, and our guys are all just locked in."

Last year, when Heard was a true freshman, the man in charge of UT's offense at the time - Shawn Watson - insisted he wasn't anywhere close to being ready to play. Last month, Watson said Heard was no farther along than Tyrone Swoopes was when he began a rough first season as a starter in 2014.

But after Strong demoted Watson two weeks ago - elevating Norvell from wide receivers coach and clearing the way for Heard to take over as starter - it's become clear Heard was far more prepared than Watson ever suggested.

Not only has he been a consistent game-breaking threat with his feet - which everyone who saw him win two state championships at Denton Guyer knew he would be - he also has displayed a reliable arm.

Delivering big plays

Against the Golden Bears, he completed 20 of 31 passes for 364 yards and ran 24 times for 163 yards. His biggest play came on a 45-yard touchdown scamper on a quarterback draw with 1:11 left in the game.

The Longhorns, who'd trailed by 21 points in the fourth quarter, needed only an extra point to tie it. Rose missed, but that didn't change the importance of what Heard accomplished.

"He wasn't afraid to take the challenge," defensive end Shiro Davis said.

Heard said his strategy during Saturday's game was to "keep talking and try to be that motivator," and the other players responded.

Two weeks earlier, senior wide receiver Daje Johnson had been frustrated with his teammates for losing hope after falling behind early at Notre Dame. But with Heard running the offense, things were different even when UT faced a three-touchdown deficit against Cal.

"The team started believing in itself," Johnson said. "We're building up a lot of believers on the team."